Novelty factor high on day 1

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There were stunts, wisecracks and the odd bit of sauciness. And
on the first day in the new Government-controlled Senate, some
refused to take the New World Order lying down.

So when nominations were called for Senate president, a fleeting
mutiny was attempted. The numbers had long been locked in for
Liberal incumbent Paul Calvert. But Green Bob Brown also put up
Kerry Nettle, the young Greens senator from Sydney, arguing she
would stop the Senate becoming a rubber stamp for John Howard.

Senator Nettle won not only the votes of the four Greens but of
three Democrats as well.

Yet was Andrew Murray, the affable West Australian senator,
fessing up to having parted ways with his fellow Democrats in the
ballot? "Everyone knows I believe in appointments on merit, and
that's how I voted," was his coy reply over drinks in Queen's
Hall.

There was plenty more humour in the chamber. When Senator
Calvert paid tribute to his wife, Jill, the placid Tasmanian noted
that "she's been there to temper my wilder ideas". Labor's Stephen
Conroy couldn't help himself. "That's way too much information for
me," he quipped saucily.

Then as each of the parties gave formal notice of their
frontbench line-up, fledgling Family First Senator Steve Fielding
wasn't about to be left out. "My party unanimously selected me as
the leader I would just like to make the Senate aware of
that," he said. Yes, he represents his party alone. Guffaws all
round.